Heel fashioning mechanism for straight knitting machines



Dec. 9, 1947. E, M, ZESCH I 2,432,108

HEEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 28) 1945 12 sheets-'sheet J.

Eigene/hijack,

E. M.l ZESCH Dec. 9, '1947.

HEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES l Filed July 28, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 9, 1947. E. M. zl-:scH

HEEL FSHIVONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 28, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmf ww Y |.|!|.lv-.| l MQ mw m. mm

Dec. 9, 1947. E, M ZESCH 2,432,108

HEEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 28, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 WITNESS/5s INVENTOR;

Eugene/1126501, @www y Dec. 9, 1947. E. M. zEscH H-EEL. FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 28, 1945 12 sheets-sheet 5 EIGL 5.

I N VEN TOR: Ezge/Ie/Mjesc,

Q BY

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 9, 1947. E. M. zl-:scH

HEEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 28, 1945 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 mi z 30 j/ JGL 6L 215 L z I l? gi, 30 6@ S 'x 4g :2-5i. il @@@@W@@@ l 21m Y'' 2Mb 212 j" f I Z100 WITNESSES INVENTOR:

E'zge/ze//LZeJr Wwa Z l BY ATTORNEYS..

12 Sheets-Sheet '7 nlm E @E @N k l l l. L r

INVENToR Eugene/112656Z@ ATTORNEYS.

NNN

Il. .mwN Y E. M. ZESCH Dec. 9, 1947.

HEEL FAsHoNING MEcHANlsM EOE STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES l Filed July 2B, 1945 Dec. 9, 1947, E, M. ZESCH 2,432,108

HEEL. FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGH';1 KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 28, 1945 l2 Sheets-Sheet 8 sm w f "TW l/ ga@ l j I Ezye/ze/Hjw @awww BY IWATTLRNC Dec. 9, 1947. v v E. M. zEscH H'EEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 2e, 1945 12 sheets-sheet 9 135 35a IN VEN TOR.- EufgefzeMJesc,

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 9,1947. E. M. zEscH HEEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July '28, 194s 12 sheets-sheet 10 2b (im IN VEN TOR.- Ezge/zeMZayc/,

OMIM

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 9, 1947. E. M. zEscH 2,432,108

HEEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 2s, 1945 12 shets-sheetu Z/wfpf Eugene/nlm@ @Z5-HJM BY ATTORNEYS.

f v ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 9, 1947. M, ZESCH 2,432,108

HEEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 2a, 1945 4 12 Sheets-sheet 12 A E l FIG; Z'.

mlm

W I TNESSES I N VEN TOR:

BY Mm' Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl HEEL FASHIONING MECHANISM FOB STRAIGHT KNITTING VlldACHINES knecht, Inc., Reading, Pa.,

Pennsylvania a corporation of Application July 28, 1945, Serial No. 607,556

15 Claims.

This invention relates to straight knitting machines, and has reference more particularly to straight multi-section knitting machines of lthe Cotton type such as are ordinarily employed in the commercial production of fashioned hosiery.

In connection with machines of the kind re ferred to, I aim to provide simple and reliable mechanism by aid of which it is possible tocontinuously and expeditiously knit complete iiat stocking blanks having either square or oblong inset or gore heel cheeks.

Another object of my invention is to'provide mechanism having the foregoing attributes which can be readily incorporated in existent fiat hosiery machines without necessitating any structural chang-es in' them or interfering with their normal mode of operation insofar as lthe formation of the leg and foot portions of the stocking blanks is concerned.

As hereinafter more fully disclosed, myy improved heel fashioning mechanism has a pair of blade-like auxiliary presser elements in association with each needle bar of the machine, these blades being rendered active after the completion of the leg and ankle portions of a stocking blank (at 4which time the press movement of the corresponding needle bar is modified to prevent a midgroup of instep needles from contacting the presser ledge) to cause end groups of the needles only to engage the presser bar in stitch formation; means for laterally shifting the presser elements relatively at definite intervals away from each other for a time, and thereafter shifting'them laterally toward each other likewise at denite intervals for a time, or vice versa, to form the heel cheeks at opposite edges of the stocking blank. The mechanism is moreover so constructed and organized as to make possible the shifting of the presser elements-at different intervals as between the two phases of the heel knitting,

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the more detailed description which follows of the attached drawings, wherein Figs. 1 and 2, considered together, show a broken-out fragmentary view of atypical straight hosiery knitting machine, partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section, convenientlyembodying my invention.

Fig. 3 shows the front elevation lof the portion of the machine pictured in plan in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a staggered transverse sectional view of the machine drawn to a larger scale and taken as approximately indicated by the angled arrows IV-IV in Fig. 2.

Fig. -5 is a transverse sectional view taken .as in- (Cl. (i6-89) dicated by the angled .arrows V-V in Figs. 1 and .3.

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary viewxcorresponding to Fig. 4 showing certain elements ofthe machine 5 in greater detail.

Fig; F7 shows the top plan of the parts illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. .8 is a detail cross sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows VIII-VIII in Fig.' 2.

10 Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in top plan looking as indicated by the angled arrows IX-IX in Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in top plan looking as indicated by the angled arrows X-X in l5 Fig.. 3.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail `cross sectional View .taken as indicated by the angled arrows 'XI- XI in Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary'view-in top plan of certain of the parts illustrated-in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view in front'elevation of the V.parts shown in Fig. l2, looking kas indicated by the angled arrows XIII- XIII in the latter illustration, and also in Fig. 2.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detailviewcorresponding -to Fig. 4 showing how the needles are ,flexed by the auxiliary presser `elements to .bring their beards into .contact with the presser ledge of the machine during stitch formation in the fashioning of the heel cheeksof stocking blanks.'

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the knitting elements of the machine and' the auX- iliary presser elements and other parts positioned in readiness to begin the knitting of the heel cheeks of a stocking blank.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary View showing a portion of .a stocking blank as it comes from .the machine- Fig. 17 is a view in side elevation showing` the 4o foot portion of a finished stocking.

Fig. .18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing a modification of the stocking foot illustrated in the latter view; and

Fig. 19 is likewise a View similarto Fig. `1'? i5 showing another modification.

rIhe knitting machine herein Ychosen for convenience of exemplifying my invention is `generally of well known construction in that it has transverse frames of which one is indicated at l5 in Fig. 4 which are connected by front and back beams I6 and l1, a front bed |'8 and .a center bed I9. Disposed after common practice in the intervals between the transverse frames I5 are one or more knitting units each comprisingV at least one needle bar 20 with a series of spring needles ally outward from brackets 2| the beards of all of which are closed, except during heel tab knitting as will be later explained, by contact with a presser ledge 22 on the usual sinker head 23 mounted on the center bed i9. The usual knockovers which also cooperate in the knitting are indicated at 24. Each needle bar 20 is pivotally connected t0 horizontal arms 25 which project inwardly from a rock shaft 26 extending longitudinally of the machine and supported in suitable bearings afforded by said cross frames. Secured to the shaft 26 is a pendent spring-biased arm 21 with a roller 28 arranged to engage a rotary cam 29 on the main cam shaft 30 of the machine. By the action of the parts just described, the necessary up and down movements are imparted to the needle bar 20 in a well known way incident to stitch formation. In and out or press movements are concurrently imparted to the needle bar 20 as required in ordinary knitting from another cam 3| on the cam shaft 30 through a roller arm 32 mounted on another rock shaft 34 with a second arm 35, which, through a link 36 is detachably connected to a pendent arm 31 connected to said needle bar.

As usual, and as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the press cam 3| comprises several sections 3|a, 3|b, 3|c and 3|d, the iirst of which is used for idle courses, and the others respectively during welt formation, during ordinary knitting and during narrowing. The roller 38 on the press arm 32 is mounted so as to be axially shiftable from one section of the cam 3l to another by means of a fork 39 alxed to a slide rod 46 which extends longitudinally of the front of the machine with others later on referred to, all being conned to endwise movement in suitably-spaced fixed brackets (not shown) on the machine framing. Also as usual, the machine is equipped with a plurality of longitudinally reciprocating carrier bars (Figs. 2, 4 and 9) which are supported by standards 45 at a level above the sinker head 23, four of such bars being shown at 46, 41, 48 and 49 as having connected to them carriers 50, 52 and 53 for laying the knitting yarns into the notches of the sinkers 54 which are supported for horizontal sliding movement in said sinker head in a well known way.

The machine is also provided with a main timing chain 55 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) which controls the various phases of a knitting cycle during which the stocking blanks are produced. This timing chain 55 is trained about end driving and idler sprocket drums 56, 51 which are mounted to rotate about studs 58 and 59 projecting later- 60, 6| on the front beam I6 of the machine framing. The drum 56 is intermittently rotated through picking of a ratchet wheel 62 thereon by a pawl 63 carried by an arm 65 which is free on the stud 58 and which is oscillated from another rotary cam 61 on the main cam shaft 30, the intermediate connections including a spring-biased bell crank lever 68 with a roller 69 on its upright extremity 68a to bear against said cam, and with its horizontal extremity 68h in engagement with the pawl arm 65 from above. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a spring 19 serves to yieldingly maintain the latter engagement, while another spring 1| yieldingly holds the pawl 63 to the ratchet wheel 62. The machine is further provided with what are generally referred to as the upper and lower automatic shafts which are intermittently rotated, and which are shown at 12 and 13 in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 as extending longitudinally of the top and bottom of the machine at the back and 4 front. The upper automatic shaft 12 is supported in bearing standards, whereof one is indicated at 15 in Fig. 4, rising from the transverse frames i5, and is intermittently rotated from another l rotary cam 16 on the main cam shaft 3U through a spring biased arm 11 with a roller 11a (Fig. 5). As shown the arm 11 is secured to a rock shaft 18 mounted in a bearing bracket 19 on the back beam I1 of the machine framing, together with a second arm 86 having an upright link connection 8| with an arm 82 which is free on the shaft 12 and carries a pawl 83 to cooperate with a ratchet wheel on the latter shaft. The means for intermittently rotating the lower automatic shaft 13 include a ratchet wheel 86 (Figs. 3 and 5) thereon arranged to be picked by a pawl 81 which is pivotally connected to a pendent roller arm 88 free between collars 89 on the press shaft 34, said arm being subject to a spring whereby its roller 90 is yieldingly maintained in peripheral contact with another rotary cam 9| on the main cam shaft 30. The lower automatic shaft 13 is turned through one complete rotation for each knitting cycle of the machine through shifting of the cam roller 90 by means under control of the timing chain 55. Accordingly the chain 55 is provided with suitablyarranged buttons such as the one shown at 55a in Fig. 3 adapted to act upon the nger extremity of a bell crank lever 92, which, through a link 93 is coupled to a slide rod 94 having a shifting fork 90a thereon for the roller 90 on arm 88. Thus, each time a button 55a on the chain 55 underpasses the bell crank lever 92, the roller is displaced into the plane of the cam 9| on the main cam shaft 39 with resultant impartation of a rotative shift to the ratchet wheel by the pawl 81. Means (not shown) similar to the above is in practice provided for controlling the roller 11a of the arm 11 through which the upper automatic shaft 12 is intermittently rotated.

The machine also has an auxiliary timing chain 95 (Fig. 2) which controls the operation of stop mechanism for variantly limiting the throw of the splicing yarn carriers used in producing shaped high heel and cradle foot reinforcements in the stocking blanks, said mechanism being diagrammatically shown in Fig. 15 as including stop nuts N and N' and intermittently rotated screws S and S' for variantly limiting the inward movement of the carriers. The auxiliary timing chain 95 is trained about sprocket drums whereof one is indicated at 96 in Fig. 2 as mounted on the lateral stud projection 91 of a fixed bracket 98 on the front beam I6 of the machine framing. A ratchet wheel 99 associated with the sprocket drum 96 is adapted to be picked by pawling mechanism (not shown) in a manner similar to that above described in connection with the main timing chain. It is to be understood that the operative phases of the auxiliary chain 95 are controlled as usual from the main timing chain 55 by suitable mechanism (not shown) with which the present invention is not directly concerned.

In adapting my invention to a at knitting machine such as briefly described above, I provide, in connection with each bank of needles, an auxiliary presser mechanism including two presser blades |00 and IUI which are of a width to comprehend corresponding groups of end needles, and which are pivotally and slidably supported on a longitudinally-arranged rod |92 extending between a pair of spaced upright arms |03 on a rock shaft |65. This rock shaft |05 is supported by inwardly-projecting brackets |06 on the front bed and ili are shifted toward and away 5 cl3 of `the machine. As shown in Fig. 4 the free tends of the presser blades and lill normal- 'ly rest on the top of the needle bar 20 so as to be icapable oi following the latter in its up and down tmovements. A stop rod |01 extending between fixed lug collar arms |09 on the bar |92 however serves to limit the downward movementI of the blades |09 and y|9|, said collars being rotatively adjustable on said bar. The means relied upon to rock the :hait |95 includes a pendent arm |09 (Fig. 4) with an axially shiftable roller ||0 at its i lower end, which is adapted to be engaged by a cam on the main cam shaft 30. The movement oi the shaft |05 is restricted in one'direction as the consequence oi the engagement of a finger |2 thereon with a xed stop rod H3, said finger being yieldingly urged toward said rod by a pull spring M5. During the formation of the heel tabs of the stockings, the presser blades |00 from each other for capacity to select between and act upon diierent groups oi end needles. This selective action is efiected through means comprising a pairv of longitudinal slide bars i0 and ||1 disposed in superposed relation immediately inward of the center bed i9 or" the machine and confined to guide notches in the bearing brackets |06 for the rock shaft |95. The bars llt and ||1 extend the full length oi the machine so as to serve for the presser blades associated with all of the other needle bars. From Figs. 2 and 9 it will be noted that to the slide bars i0 and ||1 are respectively affixed inwardly reaching projections H8 and ||9 with spaced lugs between which latter the fulcruined bosses lfla and it la ei the presser blades |99 and lili are engaged. The bars llt 'and ||1 are intermittently shiitable by means shown in Figs. 2, S and li) as including a pair of axiallyaiigned oppositely-threaded screw spindles |20 and |2| 'which have their ends journaled in inwardly-reaching bearing brackets |227 |23 and |20 on the front bed i8 of the machine and which are engaged by nuts |25, |25 respectively having lateral flanges ia and |29a secured by screws to said bars. The nuts |20, |23 are restrained against turning as a consequence oi the engagement of slotted lateral lugs |2519 and |20b thereon with guide plates |21, |28 affixed to the front bed` i8, Pinned or otherwise secured to the outer end of the spindle |20 are reversely `pitched ratchet wheels |29 and |33 adapted to be picked by pawls |3| and |32 pivotally connected to the swinging end of a horizontal arm |33 (Figs. 2 and 8) which is free on a shaft |35; rotative in bearing brackets |35, |35a upstanding from the back beam I1 on the machine. The arm |33 carries an axiallyshiftable roller |36 arranged to cooperate with a semi-annular cam |31 on the main cam shaft 3|) of the machine, said arm being yieldingly urged toward said cam by a spring |39 and its downward movement being limited by a stopscrew |39 adjustable in a projection |40 of the bracket. The pawls |3| and |32 are biased toward the ratchets |29, |39 by springs |0| in tension between them and an anchorage |92 attached to the :front bed i8 or" the machine. Oscillatably supported in bearing brackets |93 extending forwardly and downwardly from the center bed |9 is a shaft |45 with angularly-spaced fingers |96, |01 thereon which respectively react upon the pawls |3| and |32 to render the use of the latter selective in a manner also later explained. The shaft |65 is actuated throughV an arm |49 thereon connected by a rearwardly extending horizontal link rod |49 to a pendent arm |50 secured to a rock shaft |51- Figs. 2 and 4) with a finger k|52 which bears on the periphery of a cam disk |53 affixed to the upper automatic shaft 12A said disk having a single cam rise |53a. The nger |52 is yieldingly maintained in contact with the cam disk by the action of a spring |54 (Fig. 8) in tension between the arm |49 and another xed anchorage |55 on the center bed |8 (Fig. 2). A spring detent |90 secured by a screw |51 to the bearing bracket |22 coopcrates with a notched disk |53 on the screw spindle |20 alongside the ratchet wheel |33 to prevent accidental rotative displacement of said shaft in shifted positions. The spindle |2| is *similarly provided at its outer end with a pair of reversely pitched ratchet wheels |60, 6| arranged to be picked respectively by pawls |52, |63 at the swinging end o1 another horizontal arm |65 which is free on the shaft i3d and carries an axially shiftable roller ||5|V to cooperate with another semi-annular cam |91 on the main cam shaft 30. rih'e roller'arm |05 is subject to the downward pull of aspring |58 and its movement in that direction is limited by an adjustable stop screw |69in a projection Mila ofthe bearing bracket |35a. Here also the pawls |02, |63 are urged toward the ratchet wheels |90, |50! by springs |10 (Fig. 2) in tension between them and a iixed anchorage l1 I, and selection is had in the use of said pawls through stop lingers |12, |13 angularly spaced on the oscillatable shaft |55, overthrow of the spindle i 2| being prevented through cooperation oi a springr detent li with a notchet disk |10 thereon. The rollers |39 and |09 on the arms |33 and |05 are shiftable respectively by forks and |10 secured to separate short parallel rods |19 and at the front 'of themachine. As shown, the rods |`i9 and |30 are slidable in bearing brackets |8| and |92 in turn secured to the loop regulating shaft |33 which also extends longitudinally of the front or the machine. The springs indicated at and |30 in Fig. l0 yieldingly urge the rods |19 and |30 leitward to keep lug collars |81 and |98 respectively on them in engagement with stops |89 and |99 on parallel control lrods |9I and |92 also disposed longitudinally of the machine at the front, and guided in stationary bearing projections on the machine framing, two of such projections. being shown at |93and |99 in Fig. 2. Aixed to the rods |9| and |92 are collars |95 and which through link rodsA |91 and |98 are connected to pivoted ngers |99, 209 arranged to be actuated by special cam buttons (not shown) on the auxiliary timing chain 95. Helical springs 203, 204 surrounding the rods I9 |92 and in compression between the bearing projections |93, |90 and other collars 205, 203 on said rods tend vto maintain the fingers |99, 200 yieldingly in operative contact with the auxiliary chain 95.

The slide rod 60 previously referred to for the Y fork 39 by which the roller 38 (Figs. 2, 6 and '1) is shifted on the press cam 3|, is in accordance with my invention actuated from a cam 2|0 on the lower automatic shaft 13, said cam having rises 2|0a, 2 |0b and 2|0c of various heights which act upon aV finger 2| i fulcrumed on the loop regulating shaft |83 with a lift finger 2 i2 which overreaches a bell cam lever 2|3 connected by a link 2|5 with a fixed projection 2|' on said rod, said bell cam lever being pivoted to a'fixed collar 2|1 on said loop regulating shaft.

The means relied upon for shifting the roller |||l to and from the cam includes a fork 2|8 which is secured to a short slide rod 2|9 (Figs. 2 and 4) guided in the bearing projections |93 and |94 through a link 220; the rod 2|9 is 7 connected to bell cam lever 22| (like the lever 2|3) arranged to be actuated by a finger 222 which lies in the path of cam projections 223a of another disk 223I fixed to the lower automatic shaft 13.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the leg and ankle portion of the stocking blank in Fig. 16 has been produced down to the line A-B-C-D in the usual well known way. When this line is reached, the roller 38 is automatically moved to the idle course section 3|a of the press cam section 3| as in Fig. '1 as the rise 2|0a of cam disk 2|0 on the lower automatic shaft 13 underpasses the linger 2|| in Fig. 6, to prevent the mid group of the needles 2| a (Fig. 15) corresponding to the instep portion of the stocking from B to C from being pressed by contact with the presser ledge during heel knitting and thus hold their loops while the heel cheeks are being formed as presently explained. Also let it be assumed that the presser blades |00, were left in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 15 at the completion of the heel knitting of a previous stocking blank; that the rollers |36, |66 (Fig. 2) have been moved onto the cams |31, |61 by shifting of the arms |11, |18 under control of the auxiliary chain 95 through the links |91, |98 and rods |9|, |92 and |19, |80A to cause actuation of the pawls |3|, |62 and picking of the ratchet wheels |29, |60 to intermittently rotate the screw spindles |20, |2|; and that the roller ||0 has been displaced into the path of cam as in Fig. 2 by the arm 2|8 through shifting of the rod 2|9 as the rise 223a of the disk 223 underpassed the finger 222. During the heel knitting all four of the yarn carriers 5| 52, 53 and 54 are operated in actual practice; but since the carriers 53, 54 are used to feed splicing yarns for reinforcing purposes, they need not be further considered herein. However, let it be understood that, during the heel knitting, the traverse of the carriers 53, 54 is controlled in the same way as presently described in connection with the carriers 5| and 52 by which the main or foundation yarns of the heel cheeks are fed. With the foregoing conditions established, the heel knitting ensues.

Incident to the formation of the upper sections H of the heel cheeks, the presser blades |00 and |0| are intermittently shifted outward relatively to each other in Fig. l5, the timing in the present instance being so ordered that such shifting is effected through a distance of two needles in every other course of the knitting. At the same time, the screws S and S (Fig. 15) are intermittently rotated by the usual means (not shown) provided for that purpose to variantly limit the traverse of the carriers 5|, 52 as required to feed their yarns to the changing numbers of the end needles operated by the presser blades |00 and |0|. This action is allowed to continue for a suitable period and results in the formation of the triangular upper heel tab sections A-B-E and C--D--F as shown. As this initial stage of the heel knitting is completed, the rise |53a of cam disk |53 (Fig. 4) on the upper automatic shaft 12 engages the finger |52 and through the arm |50, the link |49 and the arm |48 (Figs. 2 and 8) causes a partial clockwise rotation of shaft |45, with the result that the ngers |46, |41 and |12, |13 are moved to a position by which the pawls |3|, |62 are disp-laced from the ratchet wheels |29, |60, and the pawls |32, |63 permitted to engage the ratchets |30, |6|, whereafter the screw spindles |20 and |2| are intermittently rotated, as before, but now in the opposite direction. As a consequence, the presser blades |00, |0| are intermittently shifted inwards or toward each other each time by the distance of two needles for every other course of the knitting. In this connection it is to be understood that the intermittent rotation of the screws S, S' is also reversed for variation of the traverse of the yarn carriers 53, 54, so that the yarns of the lattei` are properly fed to the changing numbers of end needles 2|a, operated by the presser blades |00, |0I. tinued until the presser blades |00 and |0| again reach the positions which they originally occupied in Fig. 15 and results in the production of the lower sections E-B-G and C F-H of the heel cheeks, with incidental formation of diagonal sutures E-B and C-F. At the completion of the heel knitting, the upper and lower automatic shafts 12 and 13 are given rotative shifts whereby the heel fashioning mechanism is rendered idle, and the machine automatically restored to normal condition for completion of the stocking foot which may be effected in any of the well known ways. The use in the machine, as illustrated in Fig. 14, of hooked knock-overs is not necessarily essential to the successful operation of my invention, since, in actual practice, plain notched knock-overs of the older and more common type Serve equally as well.

As an alternative I may, between the two stages of the heel knitting run in a few courses (by use for example of one of the carriers 50, 5|) all the way across the stocking blank with resultant production of a stocking such as shown in Fig. 18 in which the heel cheeks are characterized by having two spaced diagonal sutures EB' and E12-B2 with the full width courses run in as aforesaid indicated at J intervening.

The stocking of Fig. 19 is produced in the same way as the stocking of Fig. 17, except that during the second stage of the heel knitting, the presser blades |00, |0| are shifted once for every third course of the knitting. This change in the procedure results in the formation of vertically oblong heel cheeks as shown, likewise however with diagonal sutures, and may be accomplished for example, by changing the buttons on the a11X- iliary timing chain 95.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of spring beard needles; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar in stitch formation; a presser ledge; an element independently supported for capacity to rise and fall with the needle bar and adapted to engage the needles from behind to urge them into contact with the presser ledge in stitch formation; and means for actuating said element in timed relation with the movements of the needle bal'.

2. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of spring beard needles; a. presser ledge; a rotary shaft operative through interposed instrumentalities to impart up and down movements to the needle bar in stitch formation; presser mechanism including an element independently supported for capacity to rise and fall with the needle bar, and adapted to engage the needles from behind to urge them into contact with the presser ledge in stitch formation; and means motivated from the shaft aforesaid for actuating said element in timed relation with the movements of the needle bar.

3. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of spring beard needles; means for im- 'I'his reverse procedure is coni parting up and down movements to the needle bar in stitch formation; a presser ledge; an element independently supported for capacity to rise and fall with the needle bar and adapted to engage a group of the needles from behind to urge them into contact with the presser ledge in stitch formation; means for actuating said member in timed relation With the movements of the needle bar; and means for intermittently shifting said element laterally for operation upon different groups of the needles.

4. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of spring beard needles; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar in stitch formation; a presser ledge; a press element pivotally supported independently of said needle bar for capacity to rise and fall with the needle bar, and adapted to engage the needles from behind in urging them the presser ledge; and means for actuating said element in timed relation to the movements of the needle bar.

5. In a straight knitting machine, a bar With a series of spring beard needles; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar in stitch formation; a presser ledge; a press element in the form of a horizontal plate with its front edge resting upon the needle bar, and adapted to engage the needles from behind in urging them into contact with the presser ledge; a support to which the press element is pivotally connected at the rear for capacity to rise and fall with the needle bar, and means arranged to move the support back and forth laterally for actuation of the element in timed relation with the needles.

6. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of spring beard needles; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar in stitch formation; a presser ledge; a press element in the form of a horizontal plate with its front edge resting upon the needle bar and adapted to engage the needles from behind in urging them into contact with the presser ledge; a rocker arm to which the press element is pivotally connected at the rear for capacity to rise and fall with the needle bar; and, means arranged to oscillate the rocker arm for actuation of the press element in timed relation with the needles.

7. In a straight stocking knitting machine, a needle bar with a series of spring beard needles; a presser ledge; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar; means for concurrently imparting in and out or press movements to cause the needle beards to engage the presser ledge in the knitting of the leg and foot portions of the stocking blanks; a normally inactive supplemental presser mechanism including a pair of blade elements for engaging end groups of needles from behind during heel knitting; normally quiescent means for actuating said elements; means for'modifying the press movement of the needle bar at the commencement of the heel knitting to prevent pressing of the instep needles, and for initiating an operative phase of the blade element actuating means; and means for progressively and concurrently shifting the blade elements laterally relative to each other in one direction at definite intervals for a time, and thereafter reversing the procedure to determine formation of fashioned heel tabs.

8.111 a straight stocking knitting machine, a needle bar With a series of spring beard needles a presser ledge; means for imparting up andl into contact vvithA down movements to the needle bar; means for concurrently imparting ments to cause the needle beards to engage the presser ledge in the knitting of the leg and foot portions of stocking blanks; a normally inactive supplemental presser mechanism including a pair of blade elements for engaging end groups of needles from behind in heel tab knitting, and normall-y quiescent means for ments; means for modifying the press movement of the needle bar at the commencement of the heel knitting to prevent pressing of the instep needles, and for initiating an operative phase of the blade element actuating means; and means for progressively and concurrently shifting the blade-elements laterally relative to each other at definite intervals in one direction for a time, and thereafter reversing the procedure with lateral shifting of said blade elements at different-intervals to determine the formation of fashioned heel tabs.

9. In a straight stocking knitting machine, a needle bar with a series of spring beard needles; a presser ledge; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar; means for concurrently imparting in and ont or press movements to cause the needle beards to engage the presser ledge in the knitting of the leg and foot portions of the stocking blanks; a normally inactive supplemental presser mechanism including a pair of blade elements for engaging and groups of needles from behind in heel knitting, and normally quiescent means for -actuating said elements; means for modifying the press movement of the needle bar at the commencement of theheel knitting to prevent pressing of the instep needles, and for initiating an operative phase of the blade element actuating means; and means for progressively and concurrently shifting the blade elements laterally relative to each other in one direction at each actuation and at definite intervals by the distance of tvvo needles for a time, and thereafter reversing the procedure to determine the formation of fashioned heel tabs;

l0. In a straight stocking knitting'machine, a needle bar with a series of spring beard needles; a presser ledge; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar; means for concurrently imparting in and out or press movements to cause the needle beards to engage the presser ledge in the knitting of the leg and foot portions of the stocking blanks; a normally inactive supplemental presser mechanism including a pair of blade elements for engaging end groups of needles from behind in heel knitting, and normally quiescent means for actuating said elements; means for modifying the press movement of the needle bar at the commencement of the heel knitting to prevent pressing of the instep needles, and for initiating an operative phase of the blade element actuating means; and means for progressively and concurrently shifting the blade elements laterally relative to each other in one direction at each actuation and at denite intervals by the distance lof two needles for a time, and thereafter reversing vthe procedure With lateral shitting of said blade elements at different intervals to determine the formation of fashioned heel tabs.

li. In a straight stocking knitting machine, a needle bar with a series of spring beard needles; a presser ledge; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar; means for concurrently imparting in and out or press movements to Cause the needle beards .to engage the presser in and out or press moveactuating said ele-V ledge during the knitting of the leg and foot portions of the stocking blanks; a normally inactive supplemental presser mechanism including a pair of blade elements for engaging end groups of needles from behind in heel knitting, and normally quiescent means for actuating said members; means for modifying `the press movement of the needle bar at the commencement of the heel tab knitting to prevent pressing of the instep needles and for initiating an operative phase of the blade element actuating means; and meansfor progressively and concurrently shifting the blade elements laterally outward relative to each other at definite Vintervals Vfor a time and thereafter reversing the procedure to determine the'formation of diagonally-sutured heel tabs.

i 12. In a straight stocking knitting machine, a needle bar with a series of spring beard needles; a presser ledge; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar; means for concurrently imparting in and out or press movements to cause the needle beards to engage the presser` ledge in the knitting of the leg and foot portions'of a stocking blank; a normally inactive supplemental presser mechanism including a pair of blade elements for engaging end groups of needles from behind in heel knitting, and normally quiescent means for actuating said elements; means for modifying the press movement ofthe needle bar at the commencement of the heel knitting to prevent pressing of the instep needlesand for concurrently initiating an operative phase of theblade element actuating means; and means for progressively and concurrently shifting the blade elements laterally outward relative to each other at denite intervals for a time, and thereafter reversing the procedure with latieral shifting ofsaid blade elements at different intervals to determine the-formation of diagonally-sutured heel tabs. Y

13. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of spring beard needles; means for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar; ,a presser ledge; an element independently supported for capacity to rise and fall with the needle bar andY adapted to engage a group of the needles from behind to urgethem into contact 4with the presser ledgein stitch formation; means for actuating s aid member in timed relation with themovements of the needle bar; screw means for shifting said element laterally to operate upon different groups ofthe needles; and means for intermittently rotating said screw means.

14. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of spring beard needles; a cam shaft; means motivated fromithe cam shaft for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar; a presser ledge; an element independently supported for capacity to rise and fall with said needle bar and adapted to engage a group of the needles from behind to urge themlinto contact with the presserledge in stitch formation; means motivated from the .cam shaft foi-.actuating said element in timed relation with the up and down movements of the needle bar; and intermittently-operated shifting means also motivated from the cam shaft for shifting said element laterally to operate ,upon different groups of the needles.

15. In a straight knitting machine, a bar with a series of spring beardneedles; a camshaft; means motivated .from the cam shaft for imparting up and down movements to the needle bar; a presser ledge; an element independently supported for capacity to rise and fall with said needle bar and adapted to engage a group of the needles from behind to urge them into Contact with .the presser ledge in stitch formation; vmeans motivated from the cam shaft for actuating said element in timed relation with the up and down movements of the needle bar; intermittently-operatedl shifting means also motivated from the cam shaft for shifting said element laterally to .operate upon diiferent groups of the needles; and timing'means for controlling the actuation of said shifting means'from the cam shaft.

' i EUGENE M, ZESCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED `STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,782,007 lLe Gorre Nov. 18, 1930 2,085,656 I Heinitz June 29, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country, Date 5,333 Great Britain 1893 269,202 Great Britain Dec, l, 1927 437,278 France "Feb, l2, 1912 11,471 Great Britain 1906 34,780 Germany Sept. 12, 1885 835,353 France Sept. 19, 1938 581,361 Germany July 26, 1933 

